1. There are Differences Between Type I, Type II and Gestational Diabetes
The underlying complication in all types of diabetes is inordinately high or low blood sugar levels. The treatments vary according to the type of diabetes you have. For instance, type I diabetics suffer from a lack of insulin that is important in how the body uses glucose. On the other hand, type II diabetics have plenty of insulin but their bodies have trouble using it to process blood glucose. Gestational diabetes is typically a short-term malady in pregnant women who develop a form of acute diabetes in response to the normal development of the placenta. While they differ in cause, they typically respond to similar treatments.
2. Short-term Versus Long-term Treatment
If you've recently been diagnosed with diabetes, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're facing years of complicated treatment. Gestational diabetes lingers only as long as you're pregnant, then disappears on its own. Many people who are diagnosed with type II diabetes can adequately handle their disease by diet and weight control. But, if you've been diagnosed with type I diabetes, chances are you'll need to manage your disease with exogenous insulin injections in addition to a specially planned diet and regular aerobic exercise.
3. Managing Your Weight as a Treatment Option
If you've recently been diagnosed with type II diabetes, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that you most likely will not have to face a lifetime of insulin injections and constant glucose monitoring. The bad news is that you'll need to lose some weight. Type II diabetics suffer primarily from insulin resistance that is directly correlated to their percent body fat. The body produces plenty of insulin--the tissues just can't use it. By adding exercise to your daily routine, you'll not only help to reduce excess body fat, you'll also increase your body's sensitivity to insulin.
4. Understanding Medications for Treating Hypoglycemia
If you and your physician have exhausted all of the other approaches to managing your hypoglycemia such as weight reduction, exercise and diet, he may want to start you on one of the many oral medications available for treating type II diabetes. Some of these include Sulfonylureas like Diabinese, Biguanides available as Glucophage or Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like Precose. Each of these drugs is meant to approach your disease in a specific way and requires that you keep in contact with your physician to monitor how well (or how poorly) they are working.
5. Monitoring Your Disease for a Lifetime
Undoubtedly, the worst thing about being diagnosed with diabetes is the reality that you'll have to deal with your disease for the rest of your life. Metabolic diseases are not like the common cold that lingers for a few weeks and then goes away. They usually represent permanent changes in your body. But, the good news is that medical science has recently developed a number of treatment options that will allow you to lead an active, productive life with minimal inconvenience. For instance, there are non-invasive blood glucose monitors available that don't require you to puncture your skin to acquire a blood sample. Another device on the market is worn like a wrist watch and analyzes your blood glucose levels by using electrical currents.
